PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Evan Better (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Franklin Jackson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Better's entrance music is Mother by Danzig. A fine choice. Jackson comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Pink Floyd - Money kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Better
vs
Jackson

188 cm
24
183 lbs
10 - 10 - 0

180 cm
23
180 lbs
8 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Evan Better!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Franklin Jackson!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, Chris Downing and Stewart Dunkirk.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jackson displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Better.
Jackson avoids the head kick by Better.
Jackson misses the shot to the body.
Better misses with a looping left.
Better pivots, looking for a leg kick but Jackson is out of range and Better settles back down.

Better gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Jackson managing to block the knees to the body from Better.
Jackson using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Better has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Jackson.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Better creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Jackson told us before the fight that he's been working on his elbows. An under utilised technique these days - let's see if it can sway the outcome of the fight.
Better lands with a short shot to the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Jackson gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Jackson lands a nice short elbow.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Jackson seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Better wants to control but Jackson is keeping busy and won't allow it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jackson seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Better trying to control from the bottom.
Jackson is controlling the pace.
Better is looking to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Jackson sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Jackson thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Better trying to control but Jackson postures up.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Better sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.

Better shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Jackson's guard.
Jackson wants to stand up but Better is controlling him.
Better trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Jackson is looking to stand up but Better isn't so interested in that idea.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Better is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Better seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Jackson for as long as he can get away with.
Jackson is adopting a defensive guard.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Better is looking to work some ground and pound but Jackson has wrist control.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Jackson drives through with a takedown into Better's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Better looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Jackson must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Better trying to control the position.
Better being controlled here, momentarily.
Better looking for a sweep. Not yet Better, not yet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Jackson content to stall in guard here.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Franklin Jackson will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Jackson tries to land a leg kick but Better saw it coming and moves away.

Better bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Better working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.

Better thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Jackson can't do much from the bottom here.
Better taking a breather here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Better throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Better tries to advance to mount but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Better is looking to take a break and control but Jackson is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The ground and pound from Better seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Jackson is looking to regain half guard here but Better keeps moving and retains side control.
Better tries to move to full mount but Jackson actually manages to regain half guard.
Better wants to advance to full mount but Jackson doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.
Better is stalling in the full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Better looking to pass the guard.
Better is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Better stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Jackson swivels though and keeps the full guard.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Jackson closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Better did well to prevent Jackson getting side control.
Better has his hands clasped together around Jackson's back. He's all about the action.
Better wants to control but Jackson is keeping busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Better tries to get to full guard but Jackson has control of the leg.
Jackson is trying to control. Better wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Jackson working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Better is looking for a sweep. Jackson is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Jackson stops Better from getting back to his feet.
Better wants to get back to full guard.
Jackson seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Better is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Better is trying to stand up here but Jackson is controlling him well.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Jackson moves out of range of the body kick from Better.
Better wants to slow Jackson down by chopping away at his legs.
Better thows a leg kick but Jackson checks it
and Jackson connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Jackson slaps away a takedown attempt from Better, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Jackson swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Better checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Jackson leaves Better with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Jackson drives through with a takedown into guard.
Franklin Jackson has got the better of the ground game so far.
Jackson sitting in guard here, content to control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Franklin Jackson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Jackson lands a nice looking body shot.
Evan Better is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Better moves in looking to clinch but Jackson pushes him off.
Jackson connects with a single shot there.
Jackson lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Nice cross by Better.
Better slips a jab from Jackson.

Better gets caught napping as Jackson dives in and scores a takedown. Better manages to retain guard.
Better is trying to keep Jackson in close.

Jackson avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Better wants to sweep but no luck.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jackson showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Jackson trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Jackson works over Better with some ground and pound from guard.
Better not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

Better has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Jackson is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.
Jackson tries for a takedown but Better manages to get underhooks.
Better tries for a takedown but Jackson manages to get underhooks.
Better landing some nice looking knees to the body.

Jackson is trying to trip Better. He has hold of a leg but Better is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Jackson persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Better trying to control the position.
Better tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Franklin Jackson is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Better is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Jackson controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Jackson trying to control but Better is working from the bottom.
Better trying to control the position.
Jackson is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Evan Better seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Jackson shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Better is looking to improve his position.
Jackson controlling the pace.
Evan Better has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Jackson is continuing to stall.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Better doesn't manage to clinch there - Jackson circles away.
Jackson pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Better tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Jackson has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Jackson looks to land a body kick but Better moved away.
Franklin Jackson seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Better closes the distance but Jackson moves to the side
and Better takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Jackson shoots in but Better avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Jackson on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Better. Better obviously looking to wear him down.

And that's the end of the fight!
Franklin Jackson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Jackson winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 28:29
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Franklin Jackson!
After winning the bout, Franklin Jackson thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.
Evan Better was interviewed post fight and said 'Lucky, lucky, lucky.'.